The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, Bola Oyebamiji, has warned management and staff against compromising their duties and responsibilities.

Bola Oyebamiji said the Performance Management System PMS which has now replaced the hitherto Annual Performance Evaluation Report APER has become a veritable tool to measure performance and to reward staff accordingly.
The MD gave the warning on Tuesday in Lokoja during the Special Retreat for the Management staff of the Authority.

The Retreat with the theme” Repositioning NIWA for excellence” the MD/CEO noted that the retreat aimed at adding value and to reposition the Authority.
He said while some staff are to design policy directions, others have been picked to be the drivers of such policies, likened the two groups to the main teams piloting a ship on a journey.

According to him, while some hold the deck, others ensure the engines below to run at their utmost performance which ultimate goal is to achieve excellence at sea.

Mr. Oyebamiji noted that the assignment at this retreat is to discuss and have a working template upon which the aspirations of Mr President on Inland Waterways, through the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will be achieved.

“As I said about three months ago in my inaugural address to the management and staff of the Authority, the objectives of NIWA are achievable, and with our collective determination, they will be achieved.

He however, solicited the cooperation of participants to be willing to play their roles as expected and charged all the General Managers, Deputy General Managers, the Area Managers to brave up for the work ahead.

“As the Honourable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the Permanent Secretary have signed a performance bond with Mr President, I have equally signed my performance bond with the Honourable Minister and the Permanent Secretary.

He told all the Management staff to sign a performance bond with him as a promise to deliver on their mandates and to cascade down to every member of the Authority.

He urged them to approach the performance management system with every sense of responsibility as it will determine their working relationship going forward.
Meanwhile, he congratulated the staff for the victory obtained at the Supreme Court granting the Authority the sole regulator of inland waterways in the country.

He commended the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, permanent Secretary, Management and staff for their commitment to the Authority that has brought about success so far recorded.